A wonderful man died today at 8:33 PM. My father died of complications from pneumonia, influenza, heart disease, and kidney failure.

Dad was born 15Jun1931 in a little village of less than 200 people in one of the most economically depressed areas of the United States in the middle of the Great Depression. His father died when he was 5 and he was raised by his mother.

He was signed to a professional baseball contract by the St. Louis Browns after high school but when the Korean War started his pro baseball career ended. After service in the Marine Corps he started a new phase of life with a big shift in plans. With his baseball glove, the GI Bill, and a cotton picking wife he earned a BS in Engineering from Arkansas State College. He taught High School for 3 years while my mother earned a BS in Physical Education from Arkansas State while having 2 children in that 3 year stretch. Dad then earned a Masters Degree in Math and Physics from Ole Miss. Dad then worked as a traveling Science teacher through 3 states for Oklahoma State University while mom earned her Masters. Dad then taught Math, Physics, and coached all American sports at Jimma Agricultural and Technical School in Ethiopia for 2 years while mom taught all grades of the American kids of the faculty.

Returning to America shortly after the Kennedy assassination dad worked for NASA then returned to education as head of all Youth programs for the National Park Service (Job Corps, Young Adult Conservation Corps, and Youth Conservation Corps). Dad stayed in the Park Service as Education Director until his retirement in 1994 after 31 years of service. During all these years mom was an educator as well. Mom and Dad modeled what a marriage is...what it means to share a vision and work toward a shared goal. Not many poor kids escaped the environment they started in. But with determination, discipline, and courage they accomplished much.

Mom has been waiting for Dad to join her in heaven. I imagine she is scolding him now asking what took him so long. I'm guessing he told her he ,as always, had some work to finish. Thank you dad for being such a wonderful father. Your love of education has left its mark on thousands of young ones. Closer to home it has left a mark on us. Two of your children are educators. All of us have your work ethic. Your family already misses you. We love and respect you. You have left a legacy few will know of, but all who do know of it will say: What a wonderful man he was.Love you dad.

He was preceded in death by 3 brothers Paul, John, and Hugo Barham and 2 sisters Virginia Martin and Norma Million.

Friends may call on Tuesday from 3-5 and 7-9 PM at the Stallings Funeral Home, 3111 Mountain Rd., Pasadena were funeral services will be held at 8 PM and on Thursday at the Fears Funeral Home, Pocahontas, Arkansas with funeral services on Friday.